Super deal on a dual processor 133Mhz bus SCSI server NOTE: Hotter, now with 256Mb PC133 ECC

[tim0thy]

Cool. I would be interested if i can find out some information on HDD storage as well. Do these use Hot Pluggable or Non, would you happen to know?

 

[Kwad Guy]

Count me in for a VRM (unless someone else locates a cheap source
first).

As for Compaq motherboards including on-board "everything". I can't
comment on this one (I don't have it yet), but the real issue
with on-board everything only occurs if you can't disable
the on-board features to include your own card. This board
has 6 PCI slots AND a dedicated 7th ISA slot. I think one of
the PCI slots is used in the base configuration. That leaves
you 5 PCI slots and 1 ISA. Put your favorite sound card in one
PCI slot, your PCI video card in the second, your modem (if you
use one) in the third. The on-board Ethernet will be perfectly
fine, so no need to disable/replace that. And you've got on-board
SCSI, so no need for the SCSI card. What's the problem? None, as long
as the BIOS lets you disable the on-board video and sound (if sound
is on-board; the discription doesn't make this clear).

Oh, and as an aside, yes, this board doesn't have an AGP slot.
But it has 64 bit / 66 Mhz PCI slots. IF (and that is a big IF) you
were willing to spring for a professional video card that takes
advantage of such a slot, you'd have AGP challenging performance
on the PCI bus. But of course, most people here are not gonna
pop the thousand (or whatever) dollars it'll cost to get a graphics
card that takes advantage of the 64 bit slots. (If anyone knows
of a cheap video card that uses them fully, let me know; I don't
know of one).

Kwad
Kwad

Kwad

 

[Darthkim]

Thanks Kwad for keeping this thread going.

As he stated you can mod the following to the motherboard. These servers do not come with sound built in (why would they?) Also remember it comes with a DUAL channel scsi card (made by symbiosis. )

Hard drive storage

since these come with a hot pluggable cage, you can use those drives. I don't think you can make much of a distinction for the compaq.

The problem with the drives is that they are too expensive. I think the cheaper solution would be to get those compaq scsi plastic covers and buy your own HD (not recommended by compaq, but oh well) perhaps i can scare up those to, with those vrm.

I'll have better news next week regarding the vrms and the compaq scsi inserts for the Hard drive cage

 

[J9JM3]

I ordered mine on Tuesday the 28th. It was listed at 654 for the HOTPLUG version which is much better then nonhotplug. Once you mess with hotplug drives you won't go back. The servers have no sound and just adequate video. They are not designed to be a desktop machine. They are designed to run backoffice products and stay up and running(good reliability and redundancy). Make sure you look for Ultra2 SCSI drives and not plain ultra scsi. Compaq changed their whole carrier for there drives about a year ago. THe old carrier had a purple label in front. My older Proliant 2500 uses the older drive carrier. The new carrier are primarily black. The only bad thing about the ML350 is it only supports 4 hotplug drives. I have two extra 18.2 ULTRA2 drives, 2 extra 9.1 ULTRA2 drives and 2 packages of Compaq 128 meg ECC133 memory, all brand new drop me email if interested. I am definitely interest in the VRM pool and a second 600 processor.

 

[Kwad Guy]

Does the ML350 come with hard drive carriers? That is, are you
gonna be able to use generic SCSI SCA drives as-is, or are you gonna
have to round up some Compaq carriers?

I hope it's the former, 'cause I have a bunch of SCSI SCA drives
lying about.

Also, can you use half height drives with it? That is, is there
clearance to use one? Perhaps if you forgoe a second drive to use it
(i.e. use one half height and two low profile).

Kwad

 

[tim0thy]

J9, if i can get one of these I'll definitely be interested in lifting a drive or two or three!

<edit> I just got off with microwarehouse and they said that they are out of stock Sorry... </edit>

 

[Darthkim]

You have to use Compaq Carriers for the ML350. They have some special interface for the SCSI controller.

 

[bkdiem2]

Am I missing something? This product includes the following...

CASE 125
MB 150
CPU 125
RAM 150
CD 40

total 590

Please explain why this is a hot deal? I'm certainly missing something.

 

[Darthkim]

&quot;am i missing something here&quot;
CASE 125
MB 150
CPU 125
RAM 150
CD 40
total 590

Definitely. First of all, the mobo is not worth 150. It is worth at least 400. It includes a brand new chipset by serverworks, and includes an dual channel ultra2 scsi controller card with onboard raid and 8 megs of ram. The case is not the normal run of the mill, it can be upgraded to for some hotswappable ones.
same with the HD cages. Those are hot swappables. PLus the 3 year full overnight warranty coverage by Compaq. for a server? we paid twice as much for my work's ml350. The compaq service is very good. liftetime technical support on your servers (beyond the 3 years...even when your warranty has run out) All my works servers are standardized on compaqs (20+ servers)

These are solid machines.

 

[Kwad Guy]

Here's the simple math:

Motherboard is at least $400, even on Pricewatch. Memory is
going to be reasonable quality stuff (most likely Micron, but
if not some name manufacturer), PC133, ECC. 2x128Mb. That's at
least $160. Case is solid and quality. Even if we assume this
was comparable to a standard Enlight or Antec case (and it's
most definitely NOT, not even close--this is a server case
with a hotswap bay and so-on), then with a floppy that's
at least $100. $20 for the CDrom. Count the CPU at $100.
OK, you're at $780, and you haven't even started to consider
the SCSI card, the hot swap bay, or the warranty. And you've
lowballed the motherboard and case.

The bottom line is: Even if you are the most adept shopper, you
COULD NOT put together a comparable system for the same price.
I would suggest you couldn't do it even with coupons and tricks
(other than the ol' five finger kind).

Kwad

 

[Len]

WHAT IS A VRM?

 

[Sinner]

Microwarehouse is out of stock on both discount SKUs. With and without the extra 128 megs RAM.

Anyone know where there are more of these in stock at $699?
I found a few places over $800 without the free RAM upgrade. I still haven't located anyone with the $699 deal.

 

[MagisterLudi]

CDW lists the same box (w/extra RAM) for $716.68. (Dunno if it's in stock.)

Nearly as good...

 

[StuckMojo]

VRM = voltage regulator module

they only have removable ones on dual boards. i dont know why they dont build them on or at least one on. seems silly not to put at least one on there since you cant use the board without at least one cpu...

 

[Kwad Guy]

CDW was out of stock as of the Nov 30. I don't know if they
got more in, but from what I've been told this is a Compaq
closeout, and it may not be possible to reorder. Worth a shot,
of course, but I wouldn't hold my breath...

Kwad

 

[e-Spider]

Micro said they were out of stock on BN7871 but on their site they have same spec server Stock # BN7872 (shows in stock) but practically dbl the price. Anyone know the difference between the two or did they realize the demand &amp; changed the Stock # &amp; price?

 

[Kwad Guy]

The reason the similar server is twice the price is that the
server in question was a flaming hot deal closeout. That's the whole
point of this thread! The price was way out of line with the
remainder of the line...

Kwad

 

[Sinner]

That isn't entirely true. All models of the ML350 except the refurbished ones were priced at $699 last night. I tried to buy the free 128 mb version but it was sold out. Then I wanted the other model, but they tell me the promotion is over. So it was a Compaq promo I guess. I looked around and other places that had the server at $699 are back up to $899 or higher as well.

 

[Kwad Guy]

All what models? Are you telling me that ML350s with faster
processors were also $699? I find that hard to believe. If it
was true, you made a major blunder in not getting one of those
when you had the chance.

The only closeout ML350s that I know of are the hotswap 600Mhz
128 (or 256 with promo) mb models. And where'd you see a
refurbished one (and how much was that)?

The only variants on the 600Mhz machine are non-hot-plug or hot-plug.
The hot-plug version is the one Compaq had the deal on. The
non-hot-plug one is somewhat cheap, relative to the line, but still
several hundred dollars more.

Kwad

 

[Sinner]

They have 3 skus for ML350 600 mhz.

1 with free RAM
1 w/o free RAM
1 refurbed.
if there was more I didn't notice.

Deal was $699 with or without the free RAM. Although the Free RAM sku is listed as sold out and the one without is listed as $1300 or so. I don't recall exactly.

Either way this deal is dead.

 

[Sinner]

Ok...anyone have the page cached for the server deal at Microwarehouse?

They have a new SKU# BN7872 for $1139 showing in stock. I didn't see this SKU# when I ordered my server. Now my order is cancelled (out of stock) and now I see this new SKU# for the same product at a higher price!

Microwarehouse doing some creative inventory management?

 

[e-Spider]

The reason for my post was that I ordered one Dec. 1 after I saw Kwad's post, they supposedly had it in stock (or so their site said they did). I just got e-mail today stating that they were out of those servers. Then I see the same spec'd machine for dbl the price as in stock? &amp; of course I questioned WTF? Anyway, apparently this deal is dead. Glad some of you were able to get in on the deal. Guess early bird gets the worm!

 

[Kwad Guy]

I dunno about whether they're doing creating inventory, but keep
in mind that there are two flavors of the ML350/600mhz: Hot swap
and non-hot-swap. The NHS version has always been a lot more
expensive than the &quot;deal&quot; server. Maybe the one in stock is
this one?

Kwad

 

[Sinner]

Nope..it's the same server. I don't know how to make an issue of it.

Post the manufacturer part# off the server you get. I'd love to compare it to the one they have in stock.

 

[Kwad Guy]

I got my ML350. Boy, this thing is very nicely constructed. Lots
of room inside, too (so easy to work on).

OK, so now I REALLY need a second VRM and at least 1 (and as
many as 4) Compaq drive carriers (don't need drives, as I have
enough SCSI SCA drive aleady).

Has anyone found a line on VRMs or drive carriers for the ML350?
A couple of people above mentioned they might, but I haven't seen
any followup...

THanks,

Kwad